Closure operator

ABSTRACT

A closure operator particularly adapted for use with a station wagon tailgate type closure and adapted to permit randomly interchangeable operation of the tailgate in either one of a power mode and a manual mode, the closure operator including a driving member movable from a center position in opening and closing directions corresponding to movement of the closure toward an open position and a closed position, means defining a slot in the driving member, a driven member connected to the closure for moving the latter in the power mode and having a pin thereon engageable on the driving member in the slot, a reversible electric motor for moving the driving member in either one of the opening and closing directions, and a control circuit having a first manually actuable switch for energizing the motor to move the driving member away from the center position in either the opening or closing directions and a second switch responsive to the position of the driving member for reversing the motor to bring the driving member back to the center position and sequencing means for preventing reversing of the motor through the second switch until the first switch is deactuated. In the center position of the driving member the pin is located adjacent one or the other of the ends of the slot when the closure is in the open and closed positions so that movement of the closure in the manual mode effects lost motion between the driving and driven members as the pin traverses the length of the slot while movement of the driving member effects engagement between an end of the slot and the pin to effect movement of the driven member and the closure in the power mode.

United States Patent 1 Cooper et a].

[ 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] CLOSURE OPERATOR [75] Inventors: Norman F.Cooper, Mt. Clemens; James 11. Dozois, Harper Woods; Bert R. Wanlass,Warren, all of [58] Field of Search....49/40, 41, 139, 140, 280, 340;296/50, 56, 57; 74/625; 160/188, 189

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,833,536 5/1958 Joachim etal. ..49/l39 3,081,078 3/1963 Lohr 3,422,572 1/1969 Pollak ..49/340 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 995,407 6/1965 Great Britain ..296/56Primary Examiner-=1. Karl Bell Attorney-W. E. Finken et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A closure operator particularly adapted for use with astation wagon tailgate type closure and adapted to permit randomlyinterchangeable operation of the tailgate in either one of a power modeand a manual mode, the closure operator including a driving membermovable from a center position in opening and closing directionscorresponding to movement of the closure toward an open position and aclosed position, means defining a slot in the driving member, a drivenmember connected to the closure for moving the latter in the power modeand having a pin thereon engageable on the driving member in the slot, areversible electric motor for moving the driving member in either one ofthe opening and closing directions, and a control circuit having a firstmanually actuable switch for energizing the motor to move thedrivingmember away from the center position in either the opening orclosing directions and a second switch responsive to the position of thedriving member for reversing the motor to bring the driving member backto the center position and sequencing means for preventing reversing ofthe motor through the second switch until the first switch isdeactuated. In the center position of the driving member the pin islocated adjacent one or the other of the ends of the slot when theclosure is in the open and closed positions so that movement of theclosure in the manual mode effects lost motion between the driving anddriven members as the pin traverses the length of the slot whilemovement of the driving member effects engagement between an end of theslot and the pin to effect movement of the driven member and the closurein the power mode.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CLOSURE OPERATOR This invention relatesgenerally to vehicle body closure systems and more particularly to aclosure operator adapted to permit randomly interchangeable operation ofa closure in either a manual mode or a power mode.

In many vehicle body closure applications it is particularly desirablethat an operator be provided with means for opening and closing theclosure automatically and, most desirably, from a remote location.Atypical example would be a tailgate type closure for a station wagonwhich quite often must be opened for loading or unloading of the vehicleby a person other than the vehicle '5 operator. In this type ofsituation it is most convenient for the operator to remain in thevehicle while automatically effecting opening and closing of thetailgate. There are other situations, however, where manual operation ofthe tailgate might be desirable and for this reason it is necessary thatthe closure operator possess a manual mode capability. A closureoperator according to this invention incorporates both an automatic orpower mode capability and a manual mode capability into a structurewhich is relatively simple in design and economical to manufacture andwhich represents an improvement over heretofore known closure operators.

The primary feature of this invention is that it provides a new andimproved closure operator particularly adapted for use witha vehiclebody closure. Another feature of this invention is that it provides anew and improved closure operator adapted to move a closure in a powermode between an open position and a closed position and incorporatinglost motion means adapted to permit movement of the closure between itspositions in a manual mode. Still another feature of this invention isthat it provides a new and improved closure operator which permitsrandomly interchangeable manual and power mode operation; that is, theclosure can be brought from one of the open and closed positions to theother in the power mode and from that other position back to the firstposition in the manual mode. Still further features of this inventionreside in the provision in the closure operator of a driving memberpowered by a reversible electric motor, a driven member connected to theclosure, a pin and slot type lost motion connection between the drivingand the driven members, and an electrical control circuit whichmaintains the driving member in a center position permitting the pin totraverse the slot in a lost motion manner during manual mode operationand which functions to automatically return the driving member to thecenter position after the latter has effected movement of the closure inthe power mode through engagement between an end portion of the slot andthe pm.

These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear portion of astation wagon type vehicle body having a movable tailgate and a closureoperator according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away view of a portion of FIG. 1 showingthe closure operator in the center position and in a positioncorresponding to the open position of the closure in solid and brokenlines respectivey;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the closure operator in thecenter position and in a position corresponding to the closed positionof the closure in solid and broken lines respectively; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit for theclosure operator.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, thereshown in phantom is therear portion of a station wagon type vehicle body designated generally10 including a roof structure 12, a left quarter panel structure 14 anda left rear body pillar l6 interconnecting the roof structure and theleft quarter panel structure, a similar right body pillar, not shown,extending between the roof structure and a right quarter panelstructure, not shown. The roof structure, the body pillars, and thequarter panel structures cooperate with a laterally extending rearbumper structure 18 in defining a rear opening, not shown, of thevehicle body extending transversely the'reacross. The rear opening isadapted to be closed by a closure or tailgate designated generally 20,the tailgate being movable in a manual mode and in a power mode by aclosure operator according to this invention designated generally 22.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the tailgate 20 includes a lower section 24and an upper section 26 pivotally supported on the roof structure 12 bya hinge 28. A pair of transversely spaced hinge leaves rigidly attachedto the lower section 24, only left side hinge leaf 30 being shown, areconnected to a corresponding pair of hinge leaves on the upper section26, only left side hinge leaf 32 being shown, by hinge pins, as at 34,so that the lower section is pivotally connected to the upper section. Aleft control arm 36 is pivotally connected to the hinge leaf 30 at 38and to the left body pillar at 40 intermediate the ends of the controlarm, a right control arm, not shown, being similarly disposed betweenthe tailgate and the body on the right side of the tailgate.Accordingly, as the upper section 26 is pivoted counterclockwise fromthe position thereof corresponding to the closed position of thetailgate, FIG. I, wherein the upper and lower sections are disposed ingenerally coplanar relation in the opening through an intermediateposition 20' toward an open position 20" of the tailgate wherein bothsections are situated remote from the opening, the lower section 24 isconstraining to fold inward under the upper section thereby minimizingthe clearance space required behind and above the vehicle.

A pair of spring counterbalance assemblies attached to respective onesof the body pillars, only left counterbalance assembly 42 being shown inFIG. 1, are connected to the ends of respective ones of the control armswhich overhang the pivots at the body pillars and function to bias thetailgate toward the open position. The spring force of eachcounterbalance assembly as well as the lever arm about the control armpivot through which the spring force acts are calibrated to insure thatthe tailgate remains in the open position without the requirement oflatches or the like.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the closure operator 22 includes asupport plate 44 adapted for rigid attachment by conventional means tothe left quarter panel structure 14. A driven member or arm 46 and acircular driving member 48 are independently pivotally mounted on thesupport plate 44 at 50. The driven arm 46 has one end of an intermediatelink 52 pivotally connected thereto at 54, the other end of theintermediate link being pivotally connected to left control arm 36 at56. Accordingly, as the tailgate is moved between the open and theclosed positions the intermediate link 52 effects pivotal movement ofthe driven arm 46 about the pivot 50 and, conversely, forced pivotalmovement of the driven arm effects movement of the tailgate between theopen and closed positions.

The driving member 48has a plurality of gear teeth 58 around thecircumference thereof, the gear teeth meshingly engaging a pinion 60adapted to be driven through a conventional gear train by an electricmotor 62 mounted on the support plate 44. The driving member 48 furtherincludes a square aperture 63 and an arcuate slot 64 bounded by a pairof terminal or end portions 66 and 68. As best seen in FIG. 2, thesquare aperture 63 is adapted to receive therein a sensing element 72projecting from a switch 74 rigidly attached to support plate 44 by abracket 76. An abutment pin 78 rigidly attached to the driven arm 46projects generally perpendicularly therefrom into the slot 64 and isadapted to traverse the length of the slot. As seen best in FIG. 5, themotor 62 includes a pair of windings 80 and 82, the winding 80 beingadapted to drive the motor in a direction corresponding to clockwise oropening rotation of the pinion 60, FIG. 1, and the winding 82 beingadapted to drive the motor in the opposite direction corresponding tocounterclockwise or closing rotation of the pinion.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the pin and slot connection betweenthe driven arm 46 and the driving member 48 permits randomlyinterchangeable operation of the tailgate in either the manual mode orthe power mode. More particularly, the driving member 48 is normallylocated in a center position, shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1,3 and 4,wherein the slot 64 is disposed generally to the right of pivot 50 andthe sensing element 72 projects into the slot 63. The center position ofthe driving member and the length of slot 64 are predetermined to insurethat when the tailgate is in the closed position, FIG. 1, the driven arm46 is positioned to locate abutment pin 78 adjacent the lower endportion 66 of the slot as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. When thetailgate is opened in the manual mode the driving member 48 is heldstationary by deenergized motor 62 and the pinion 60 while theintermediate link 52 pivots the driven arm 46 counterclockwise from thesolid line position, FIGS. 1 and 3, through an intermediate positioncorresponding to the intermediate position of the tailgate, to aposition adjacent a bumper 84 on the support plate 44 corresponding tothe open position of the tailgate. The slot 64 accommodates lost motionbetween the driving member and the driven arm as the pin traverses thelength of the slot from the lower end portion 66 to a position adjacentthe upper end portion 68. The tailgate may, of course, be lowered in themanual mode merely by reversing the force applied to the tailgate, thelost motion between the driven arm and the driving member again beingaccommodated by the pin and slot connection therebetween.

For operation of the tailgate in the power mode, one of the windings ofthe motor 62 is energized to drive pinion 60 in a directioncorresponding to the desired movement of the tailgate. Moreparticularly, with the tailgate in the closed position, clockwiserotation of the pinion 60 as a result of energization of winding effectscounterclockwise rotation of the driving member 48 from the solid to thebroken line position in FIGS. 1 and 3 which, in turn, results inengagement between the lower end portion 66 of the slot 64 and theabutment pin 78, the abutment pin and the driven arm thereafter beingrotated counterclockwise as a unit with the driving member to effectmovement of the tailgate from the closed to the open position. Followingmovement of the tailgate to the open position, in which the latter isheld by the counterbalance assemblies, the aforementioned controlcircuit, as described hereinafter, automatically reverses the motor 62to bring the driving member 48 back to the center position, the abutmentpin 78 then being situated adjacent the upper end portion 68 of the slot64. Movement of the tailgate in the power mode toward the closedposition is effected by energization of winding 82 of the motor 62 whichrotates the pinion 60 in a counterclockwise direction, FIGS. 1 and 4,causing engagement between the upper end portion 68 of the slot 64 andthe abutment pin 78, the driving member being rotated to the broken lineposition shown in FIG. 4 to bring the driven arm back to the positionthereof corresponding to the closed position of the closure. After thetailgate achieves the closed position, the aforementioned controlcircuit again automatically reverses the motor to bring the drivingmember back to the center position, the abutment pin then being locatedadjacent lower end portion 66 of the slot 64. It will, of course, beapparent that the pin and slot connection between the driving anddrivenmembers, with the driving member always returning to the centerposition, facilitates randomly interchangeable operation of the tailgatein either the power mode or the manual mode since the tailgate can bemoved from one position to the other in one of the two modes and back tothe first position in the other mode.

Referring now to FIG. 5, thereshown is a schematic diagram of theelectrical control circuit for the closure operator. The control circuitincludes, in addition to the switch 74 and the windings 80 and 82 ofthemotor 62, a manually operable electrical switch 86 and a pair ofrelays 88 and 90 each having a normally open contact 92, a normallyclosed contact 94, and a holding coil 96. The switch 86 may beconveniently located on the vehicle instrument panel or on the bodyadjacent the rear opening and includes a manually movable contactor 98which is maintained at an electrical potential by a conductor 100extending between the battery of the vehicle, not shown, and thecontactor. The contactor 98 is engageable within the switch on aterminal end of either one of a pair of conductors 102 and 104, theother terminal end of conductor 102 being connected to one side of thenormally open contact 92 and the holding coil 96 in relay 90 while theother terminal end of conductor 104 is similarly connected to theholding coil and normally open contact in relay 88. The other side ofnormally open contact 92 in relay 90 is connected by a conductor 106 tothe winding 82 of electric motor 62. Similarly, the other side ofnormally open contact 92 in relay 88 is connected by a conductor 108 tothe winding 80 of electric motor 62. Another conductor 1 10, connectedto the battery of the vehicle and maintained at the electrical potentialof the latter, serially connects the normally closed contacts in each ofthe relays 88 and 90 and terminates within switch 74 in electricallyconductive engagement with a movable contactor 112.

The contactor 112 is actuated by sensing element 72 so that the switch74 is responsive to the position of driving member 48. When the drivingmember moves from the center position thereof in a directioncorresponding to opening movement of the tailgate, the sensing elementis cammed out of aperture 63 and moves the contactor 112 to a positionelectrically connecting conductor 110 and the winding 82 correspondingto energization of the motor 62 in the opposite or closing direction.Similarly, when the driving member 48 moves from the center positionthereof in the direction corresponding to closing movement of thetailgate, the contactor 112 is moved to a position electricallyconnecting conductor 110 and the winding 80 corresponding toenergization of the motor 62 in the opposite or opening direction.

Describing now the combined operation of the tailgate and the closureoperator, in the closed position of the tailgate the driving member isin the center position thereof and driven arm 46 assumes the positionshown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. To open the tailgate in themanual mode, the operator grasps a handle 114 on the lower section 24and lifts the tailgate from the closed to the open position while thelost motion between the driven arm 46 and the driving member 48 is takenup in the slot 64. The tailgate is held in the open position by thespring counterbalance assemblies and may be returned to the closedposition by reversing the direction of the force applied to the handle I14.

T o operate the tailgate in the power mode, the operator manually movesthe contactor 98 in switch 86 to a position electrically connectingconductors 100 and 104 thereby to close the normally open contact 92 andopen the normally closed contact 94 in the relay 88. With the contact 92closed, the winding 80 of the motor 62 is energized to effect clockwiserotation of the pinion 60 and counterclockwise rotation of the drivingmember 48. Counterclockwise rotation of the driving member, of course,effects engagement between the lower end portion 66 of the slot 64 andthe abutment pin 78 on the driven arm for moving the tailgate to theopen position as described hereinbefore.

As the driving member moves out of the center position during opening ofthe tailgate, the sensing element 72 is cammed out of aperture 63thereby to connect winding 82 of the motor and conductor 110 throughcontactor 112. Electrical continuity between the battery and contactor112 is broken, however, by normally closed contact 94 in relay 88 whichis held open by coil 96 as long as switch 86 is being manually actuatedso that the opposing winding 82 of the motor remains deenergized.

When the operator senses that the tailgate has reached the openposition, either visually or through stalling of the driven arm 46against the bumper 84,

contactor 98 is deactuated thereby to deenergize the coil 96 and openthe contact 92 while closing the contact 94 in the relay 88. With thecontact 94 closed and the contactor 112 in switch 74 still electricallyconnecting the conductor 110 and the winding 82 because the drivingmember is out of the center position, the motor 62 is immediatelyenergized in the reverse direction thus rotating the driving member 48clockwise back to the center position thereof wherein the contactor 112is automatically returned to a position disengaged from both of themotor windings and 82 as the sensing element reenters aperture 63 in thedriving member. Since the driving member 48 is again in the centerposition thereof, the tailgate may, if desired, be moved from the opento the closed position in the manual mode with the lost motion betweenthe driven arm 46 and the driving member 48 being taken up in the slot64.

Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the tailgate may be movedin the power mode from the open position to the closed position bybringing the contactor 98 into engagement with the terminal end ofconductor 102 thereby to close and open, respectively, the contacts 92and 94 in the relay 90. With contact 92 closed the winding 82 of themotor is energized to effect counterclockwise rotation in the pinion 60and clockwise rotation of the driving member 48 thus moving the tailgateto the closed position. As the driving member 48 begins clockwiserotation, the contactor 112 of switch 74 electrically connects theopposing winding 80 of the motor to the conductor as the sensing element72 is cammed out of aperture 63, the connection, however, beinginterrupted by open contact 94. When the operator detects that thetailgate has achieved the closed position, the contactor 98 in theswitch 86 is deactuated and the motor 62 immediately and automaticallyenergized in the opposite direction. With the motor 62 rotating in theopposite direction, the driving member 48 is rotated counterclockwiseback to the center position.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the control circuitcould easily be modified to accommodate extra manually actuatedswitches. More particularly, a very convenient arrangement incorporatestwo manual switches, one switch being located on the instrument paneland the other being located on the vehicle body exterior adjacent therear opening. The two terminal portions of the second switch areconnected in parallel with the terminal end portions of conductors 102and 104 and the contactor of the second switch is maintained at batterypotential by any convenient means. In such an arrangement, either switchis effective to operate the tailgate in the power mode.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a vehiclebody having an opening therein and a closure supported thereon formovement in either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an openposition remote from said opening and a closed position disposed in saidopening, the combination comprising, a driving member supported on saidvehicle body for movement from a center position in either one of aclosing direction and an opening direction corresponding respectively tomovement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the openposition, drive means selectively operable to move said driving memberin either one of said opening and said closing directions, a drivenmember operably connected to said closure for moving the latter in thepower mode between the open and the closed positions thereof, meansdefining a slot on one of said driving and said driven members having apair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutment on theother of said driving and said driven members engageable on said onemember in said slot, said driven member in the center position of saiddriving member locating the one of said slot and said abutment thereonrelative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one of anextended position corresponding to the open position of said closurewherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one of said end portions ofsaid slot and a retracted position corresponding to the closed positionof said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other ofsaid end portions of said slot so that movement of said closure in themanual mode effects concurrent movement of said abutment relative tosaid slot between said end portions of the latter, control meansassociated with said drive means manually actuable to energize thelatter for moving said driving member from the center position in eitherone of said opening and closing directions thereby to effect engagementbetween said abutment and one of said end portions of said slot formoving said closure in the power mode toward the corresponding one ofthe open and the closed positions, and automatic reversing meansassociated with said drive means responsive to deactuation of saidcontrol means for effecting momentary reverse energization of said drivemeans to return said driving member to the center position thereof.

2. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supportedthereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power modebetween an open position remote from said opening and a closed positiondisposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving membersupported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position ineither one of a closing direction and an opening direction correspondingrespectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position andtoward the open position, a reversible electric motor connected to saiddriving member and supported on said vehicle body for selectiveenergization from a source of electrical energy to move said drivingmember in either one of said opening and said closing directions, adriven member operably connected to said closure for moving the latterin the power mode between the open and the closed positions thereof,means defining a slot on one of said driving and said driven membershaving a pair of opposite end portions, means defining a rigid abutmenton the other of said driving and said driven members engageable on saidone member in said slot, said driven member in the center position ofsaid driving member locating the one of said slot and said abutmentthereon relative to the other of said slot and said abutment in one ofan extended position corresponding to the open position of said closurewherein said abutment is disposed adjacent one end portion of said slotand a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of saidclosure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent the other end portionof said slot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effectsconcurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between saidend portions of the latter, a first electrical switch disposed betweensaid energy source and said electric motor manually actuable to energizethe latter for pivotally moving said driving member from the centerposition in either one of said opening and said closing directionsthereby to effect engagement between said abutment and one of said endportions of said slot for moving said closure in the power mode towardthe corresponding one of the open and the closed positions, a secondelectrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electricmotor responsive to the position of said driving member for energizingsaid motor in a reverse manner thereby to effect movement of said drivemember toward the center position thereof, and switch sequencing meansassociated with each of said first and said second switches responsiveto the condition of said first switch for preventing reverseenergization of said motor simultaneously with actuation of said firstswitch.

3. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supportedthereon for pivotal movement about an axis of said vehicle body ineither one of a power mode and a manual mode between an open positionremote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening,the combination comprising, a driving member having therein an arcuateslot including a pair of opposite end portions, means supporting saiddriving member on said vehicle body for pivotal movement about a fixedaxis of the latter from a center position in either one of a closingdirection and an opening direction corresponding respectively to pivotalmovement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the openposition, a reversible electric motor connected to said driving memberand supported on said vehicle body for selective energization from asource of electrical energy on said vehicle body to move said drivingmember in either one of said opening and said closing directions, adriven member supported on said vehicle body adjacent said drivingmember for independent pivotal movement about said fixed axis of saidvehicle body, link means operably connecting said driven member to saidclosure for moving the latter in said power mode between the open andthe closed positions thereof, means on said driven member defining a pinprojecting rigidly therefrom into said slot on said driving member, saiddriven member in the center position of said driving member locatingsaid pin in one of an extended position corresponding to the openposition of said closure wherein said pin is situated adjacent one ofsaid end portions of said slot and a retracted position corresponding tothe closed position of said closure wherein said pin is situatedadjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement ofsaid closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of said pinrelative to said slot between said end portions of the latter, a firstelectrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electricmotor manually actuable to energize the latter for pivotally moving saiddriving member from the center position in either one of said openingand closing directions thereby to effect engagement between said pin andone end portion of said slot for moving said cloing means associatedwith each of said first and said second switches responsive to thecondition of said first switch for preventing reverse energization ofsaid motor simultaneously with actuation of said first switch.

1. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and a closure supportedthereon for movement in either one of a manual mode and a power modebetween an open position remote from said opening and a closed positiondisposed in said opening, the combination comprising, a driving membersupported on said vehicle body for movement from a center position ineither one of a closing direction and an opening direction correspondingrespectively to movement of said closure toward the closed position andtoward the open position, drive means selectively operable to move saiddriving member in either one of said opening and said closingdirections, a driven member operably connected to said closure formoving the latter in the power mode between the open and the closedpositions thereof, means defining a slot on one of said driving and saiddriven members having a pair of opposite end portions, means defining arigid abutment on the other of said driving and said driven membersengageable on said one member in said slot, said driven member in thecenter position of said driving member locating the one of said slot andsaid abutment thereon relative to the other of said slot and saidabutment in one of an extended position corresponding to the openposition of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacent oneof said end portions of said slot and a retracted position correspondingto the closed position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposedadjacent the other of said end portions of said slot so that movement ofsaid closure in the manual mode effects concurrent movement of saidabutment relative to said slot between said end portions of the latter,control means associated with said drive means manually actuable toenergize the latter for moving said driving member from the centerposition in either one of said opening and closing directions thereby toeffect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions ofsaid slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward thecorresponding one of the open and the closed positions, and automaticreversing means associated with said drive means responsive todeactuation of said control means for effecting momentary reverseenergization of said drive means to return said driving member to thecenter position thereof.
 1. In a vehicle body having an opening thereinand a closure supported thereon for movement in either one of a manualmode and a power mode between an open position remote from said openingand a closed position disposed in said opening, the combinationcomprising, a driving member supported on said vehicle body for movementfrom a center position in either one of a closing direction and anopening direction corresponding respectively to movement of said closuretoward the closed position and toward the open position, drive meansselectively operable to move said driving member in either one of saidopening and said closing directions, a driven member operably connectedto said closure for moving the latter in the power mode between the openand the closed positions thereof, means defining a slot on one of saiddriving and said driven members having a pair of opposite end portions,means defining a rigid abutment on the other of said driving and saiddriven members engageable on said one member in said slot, said drivenmember in the center position of said driving member locating the one ofsaid slot and said abutment thereon relative to the other of said slotand said abutment in one of an extended position corresponding to theopen position of said closure wherein said abutment is disposed adjacentone of said end portions of said slot and a retracted positioncorresponding to the closed position of said closure wherein saidabutment is disposed adjacent the other of said end portions of saidslot so that movement of said closure in the manual mode effectsconcurrent movement of said abutment relative to said slot between saidend portions of the latter, control means associated with said drivemeans manually actuable to energize the latter for moving said drivingmember from the center position in either one of said opening andclosing directions thereby to effect engagement between said abutmentand one of said end portions of said slot for moving said closure in thepower mode toward the corresponding one of the open and the closedpositions, and automatic reversing means associated with said drivemeans responsive to deactuation of said control means for effectingmomentary reverse energization of said drive means to return saiddriving member to the center position thereof.
 2. In a vehicle bodyhaving an opening therein and a closure supported thereon for movementin either one of a manual mode and a power mode between an open positionremote from said opening and a closed position disposed in said opening,the combination comprising, a driving member supported on said vehiclebody for movement from a center position in either one of a closingdirection and an opening direction corresponding respectively tomovement of said closure toward the closed position and toward the openposition, a reversible electric motor connected to said driving memberand supported on said vehicle body for selective energization from asource of electrical energy to move said driving member in either one ofsaid opening and said closing directions, a driven member operablyconnected to said closure for moving the latter in the power modebetween the open and the closed positions thereof, means defining a sloton one of said driving and said driven members having a pair of oppositeend portions, means defining a rigid abutment on the other of saiddriving and said driven members engageable on said one member in saidslot, said driven member in the center position of said driving memberlocating the one of said slot and said abutment thereon relative to theother of said slot and said abutment in one of an extended positioncorresponding to the open position of said closure wherein said abutmentis disposed adjacent one end portion of said slot and a retractedposition corresponding to the closed position of said closure whereinsaid abutment is disposed adjacent the other end portion of said slot sothat movement of said closure in the manual mode effects concurrentmovement of said abutment relative to said slot between said endportions of the latter, a first electrical switch disposed between saidenergy source and said electric motor manually actuable to energize thelatter for pivotally moving said driving member from the center positionin either one of said opening and said closing directions thereby toeffect engagement between said abutment and one of said end portions ofsaid slot for moving said closure in the power mode toward thecorresponding one of the open and the closed positions, a secondelectrical switch disposed between said energy source and said electricmotor responsive to the position of said driving member for energizingsaid motor in a reverse manner thereby to effect movement of said drivemember toward the center position thereof, and switch sequencing meansassociated with each of said first and said second switches responsiveto the condition of said first switch for preventing reverseenergization of said motor simultaneously with actuation of said firstswitch.